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It is Week 11 of the season and USF has yet to make the cut in the top 25 of the three major polls.  The National Playoff Poll is in its second weekly publishing, but won’t be covered in this post simply because USF isn’t there, yet.

As usual, the AP Poll, discussed on USF Blog previously, will be first on the docket.

1              Alabama

2              Michigan

3              Clemson

4              Washington

5              Louisville

6              Ohio State

7              Wisconsin

8              Auburn

9              Oklahoma

10           Texas A&M

11           West Virginia

12           Penn State

13           Utah

14           Western Michigan

15           North Carolina

16           Colorado

17           Oklahoma State

18           Virginia Tech

19           LSU

20           Florida State

21           Nebraska

22           Florida

23           Washington State

24           Boise State

25           Baylor

26           USC

27           Arkansas

28           San Diego State

29           Troy

30           Houston

31           Tennessee

32           Tulsa

32           South Florida

34           Minnesota

34           Navy

34           Wyoming

 

The American Athletic Conference continues to get shut out of this poll.  USF ties Tulsa at 32nd, while Houston is 30th.  Those three teams in the unofficial area of the poll, others receiving votes.  The Bulls received just three vote points in this week’s poll, after receiving 10 the previous week.

The USA Coaches Poll has tracked a bit better for USF all season, but top 25 honors have alluded them.  The methodology of this poll was detailed on a previous USF Blog posting.

1              Alabama

2              Clemson

3              Michigan

4              Washington

5              Ohio State

6              Louisville

7              Wisconsin

8              Auburn

9              Oklahoma

10           West Virginia

11           Texas A&M

12           Utah

13           North Carolina

14           Penn State

15           Colorado

16           Florida

17           Oklahoma State

18           Florida State

19           LSU

20           Nebraska

21           Western Michigan

22           Virginia Tech

23           Washington State

24           Boise State

25           Baylor

26           USC

27           San Diego State

28           Arkansas

29           Houston

30           South Florida

31           Wyoming

32           Navy

32           Tennessee

34           Tulsa

35           Troy

36           Appalachian State

37           Minnesota

37           Stanford

39           Louisiana Tech

 

USF is still in the neighborhood, ranking an unofficial 30th after a bye week.  Interestingly, in both the AP and USA Today poll, they dropped exactly one spot, even though they did not lose.  Their vote point count dropped from 34 to 28.

The CBS 128 is the first of the computer modeled polls, explained in an earlier post on USF Blog. 

1              Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0)

2              Michigan Wolverines (9-0)          

3              Clemson Tigers (9-0)      

4              Washington Huskies (9-0)           

5              Louisville Cardinals (8-1)               

6              Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1)           

7              Auburn Tigers (7-2)                        

8              Wisconsin Badgers (7-2)                               

9              Oklahoma Sooners (7-2)                              

10           Penn State Nittany Lions (7-2)   

11           Texas A&M Aggies (7-2)                               

12           Western Michigan Broncos (10-0)

13           West Virginia Mountaineers (7-1)

14           Colorado Buffaloes (7-2)

15           LSU Tigers (5-3)                

16           Utah Utes (7-2)                

17           Washington State Cougars (7-2)               

18           Virginia Tech Hokies (7-2)            

19           Florida Gators (6-2)                        

20           Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2)      

21           Southern California Trojans (6-3)

22           North Carolina Tar Heels (7-2)   

23           Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-2)

24           Boise State Broncos (8-1)            

25           Florida State Seminoles (6-3)     

26           San Diego State Aztecs (8-1)      

27           Houston Cougars (7-2)                  

28           South Florida Bulls (7-2)

 

In this ranking system, the Bulls are the second highest ranked AAC team at 28th.  Houston is just one spot higher, at 27.  USF peaked at 22nd in this system, but dropped to 30th after the loss to Temple. 

Congrove CCR 128 is one of the many factors that goes into the Massey Composite, shown below.  It is a computer ranking system, explained previously on USF Blog.

1              Alab

2              Mich

3              Wash

4              Clem

5              Ohio St

6              WMU

7              Lville

8              SD St

9              Wisc

10           Okla

11           Auburn

12           Wash St

13           WVU

14           Boise

15           TexA&M

16           OkSt

17           UNC

18           VT

19           PSU

20           Colo

21           Utah

22           Hou

23           LSU

24           App St

25           Toledo

26           FSU

27           USF

 

The Bulls are just outside the top 25 in this ranking system, at 27th.  Houston is five spots higher at 22.  Noteworthy in this model is that FSU, team that crushed USF early on, is just one spot better than the Bulls.  This ranking is nine spots worse than their best ranking of

ESPN’s Football Power Index, explained on USF Blog, is next.

1              Alabama, SEC

2              Michigan, Big Ten

3              Louisville, ACC

4              OSU, Big Ten

5              Clemson, ACC

6              Washington, Pac-12

7              Auburn, SEC

8              LSU, SEC

9              FSU, ACC

10           Texas A&M, SEC

11           Oklahoma, Big 12

12           USC, Pac-12

13           Colorado, Pac-12

14           Washington St, Pac-12

15           Wisconsin, Big Ten

16           UNC, ACC

17           Tennessee, SEC

18           Ole Miss, SEC

19           Oklahoma State, Big 12

20           Penn State, Big Ten

21           West Virginia, Big 12

22           Miami, ACC

23           Florida, SEC

24           W Michigan, MAC

25           VT, ACC

26           Stanford, Pac-12

27           UCLA, Pac-12

28           TCU, Big 12

29           Baylor, Big 12

30           Boise State, MW

31           Texas, Big 12

32           BYU, FBS Indep.

33           Houston, American

34           USF, American

 

As with CBS 128, the FPI ranks Houston just one spot above USF.  This time, they are 33 and 34.  That rank is unchanged per the prior week for USF, and eleven points lower than their season high of 23rd in Week 4.

The Massey Composite ranking combines more than 100 different ranking systems and averages the total ranks by team.  The methodology is explained on USF Blog. 

1              Alab

2              Mich

3              Clem

4              Ohio St

5              Wash

6              Lville

7              Auburn

8              Wisc

9              TexA&M

10           WMU

11           PSU

12           Colo

13           Wash St

14           FSU

15           USC

16           Okla

17           WVU

18           Boise

19           VT

20           UNC

21           LSU

22           Neb

23           UTK

24           Utah

25           Stan

26           Fla

27           OkSt

28           Ark

29           Hou

30           SD St

31           USF

 

The Massey Composite bears similar results to the other ranking systems, which suggests that USF is pretty close to their correct ranking, now.  Houston is the only team ranked higher, at 29.  This poll was reported on this blog inaccurately, last week.  It was reported that the Bulls were ranked 36th, but they were actually the same rank as they are this week, 31. Massey includes the Massey ranking system in their composite rankings and the Massey rank was reported instead of the composite ranking.  This has been fixed going forward.  The Bulls peaked at 27th in the composite during Weeks 7 and 8.

The final system being reviewed in this series is Sagarin.  The methodology for this ranking system can be found on an earlier USF Blog posting.

1              Alab

2              Mich

3              Ohio St

4              Clem

5              Wash

6              Lville

7              Auburn

8              LSU

9              Wisc

10           TexA&M

11           Okla

12           Colo

13           Wash St

14           USC

15           FSU

16           VT

17           PSU

18           Stan

19           WMU

20           OlMi

21           WVU

22           UTK

23           Fla

24           Mia FL

25           UNC

26           OkSt

27           TCU

28           Utah

29           Neb

30           Hou

31           Boise

32           Ark

33           Baylor

34          UCLA

35           BYU

36           Texas

37           SD St

39           Iowa

39           UCLA

40           USF

 

Sagarin’s methodology does not like the AAC or USF, ranking Houston highest at 30th and the Bulls next at 40th.  This system has consistently been the lowest ranking for USF for all systems that rank more than 25 teams.  The AP is the only ranking system that has been lower, and that is because only 25 teams are ranked officially and less than 40 typically get votes. 

When conceptualized, this series was not intended to be a season long analysis of ranking systems.  It was believed that a USF team with one or two losses would probably be ranked at some point during the season.  Once they were ranked, the focus would simply be on where they are ranked on a weekly basis throughout the season in the major polls.  Back in the Big East days, a USF team at 7-2 was very likely to be ranked in the top 25.  The struggle they have had to get that kind of national recognition points, in some respects, to how unimpressed the media is with the American Athletic Conference.  It’s not hard to understand, because the conference still has no standard bearer.  Houston looked like they might be up for the job, but their season turned.  USF cannot fill that role as long as they are losing in such convincing fashion, when they lose.

It is Week 11 of the season and USF has yet to make the cut in the top 25 of the three major polls.  The National Playoff Poll is in its second weekly publishing, but won’t be covered in this post simply because USF isn’t there, yet.

As usual, the AP Poll, discussed on USF Blog previously, will be first on the docket.

1              Alabama

2              Michigan

3              Clemson

4              Washington

5              Louisville

6              Ohio State

7              Wisconsin

8              Auburn

9              Oklahoma

10           Texas A&M

11           West Virginia

12           Penn State

13           Utah

14           Western Michigan

15           North Carolina

16           Colorado

17           Oklahoma State

18           Virginia Tech

19           LSU

20           Florida State

21           Nebraska

22           Florida

23           Washington State

24           Boise State

25           Baylor

26           USC

27           Arkansas

28           San Diego State

29           Troy

30           Houston

31           Tennessee

32           Tulsa

32           South Florida

34           Minnesota

34           Navy

34           Wyoming

 

The American Athletic Conference continues to get shut out of this poll.  USF ties Tulsa at 32nd, while Houston is 30th.  Those three teams in the unofficial area of the poll, others receiving votes.  The Bulls received just three vote points in this week’s poll, after receiving 10 the previous week.

The USA Coaches Poll has tracked a bit better for USF all season, but top 25 honors have alluded them.  The methodology of this poll was detailed on a previous USF Blog posting.

1              Alabama

2              Clemson

3              Michigan

4              Washington

5              Ohio State

6              Louisville

7              Wisconsin

8              Auburn

9              Oklahoma

10           West Virginia

11           Texas A&M

12           Utah

13           North Carolina

14           Penn State

15           Colorado

16           Florida

17           Oklahoma State

18           Florida State

19           LSU

20           Nebraska

21           Western Michigan

22           Virginia Tech

23           Washington State

24           Boise State

25           Baylor

26           USC

27           San Diego State

28           Arkansas

29           Houston

30           South Florida

31           Wyoming

32           Navy

32           Tennessee

34           Tulsa

35           Troy

36           Appalachian State

37           Minnesota

37           Stanford

39           Louisiana Tech

 

USF is still in the neighborhood, ranking an unofficial 30th after a bye week.  Interestingly, in both the AP and USA Today poll, they dropped exactly one spot, even though they did not lose.  Their vote point count dropped from 34 to 28.

The CBS 128 is the first of the computer modeled polls, explained in an earlier post on USF Blog. 

1              Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0)

2              Michigan Wolverines (9-0)          

3              Clemson Tigers (9-0)      

4              Washington Huskies (9-0)           

5              Louisville Cardinals (8-1)               

6              Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1)           

7              Auburn Tigers (7-2)                        

8              Wisconsin Badgers (7-2)                               

9              Oklahoma Sooners (7-2)                              

10           Penn State Nittany Lions (7-2)   

11           Texas A&M Aggies (7-2)                               

12           Western Michigan Broncos (10-0)

13           West Virginia Mountaineers (7-1)

14           Colorado Buffaloes (7-2)

15           LSU Tigers (5-3)                

16           Utah Utes (7-2)                

17           Washington State Cougars (7-2)               

18           Virginia Tech Hokies (7-2)            

19           Florida Gators (6-2)                        

20           Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2)      

21           Southern California Trojans (6-3)

22           North Carolina Tar Heels (7-2)   

23           Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-2)

24           Boise State Broncos (8-1)            

25           Florida State Seminoles (6-3)     

26           San Diego State Aztecs (8-1)      

27           Houston Cougars (7-2)                  

28           South Florida Bulls (7-2)

 

In this ranking system, the Bulls are the second highest ranked AAC team at 28th.  Houston is just one spot higher, at 27.  USF peaked at 22nd in this system, but dropped to 30th after the loss to Temple. 

Congrove CCR 128 is one of the many factors that goes into the Massey Composite, shown below.  It is a computer ranking system, explained previously on USF Blog.

1              Alab

2              Mich

3              Wash

4              Clem

5              Ohio St

6              WMU

7              Lville

8              SD St

9              Wisc

10           Okla

11           Auburn

12           Wash St

13           WVU

14           Boise

15           TexA&M

16           OkSt

17           UNC

18           VT

19           PSU

20           Colo

21           Utah

22           Hou

23           LSU

24           App St

25           Toledo

26           FSU

27           USF

 

The Bulls are just outside the top 25 in this ranking system, at 27th.  Houston is five spots higher at 22.  Noteworthy in this model is that FSU, team that crushed USF early on, is just one spot better than the Bulls.  This ranking is nine spots worse than their best ranking of

ESPN’s Football Power Index, explained on USF Blog, is next.

1              Alabama, SEC

2              Michigan, Big Ten

3              Louisville, ACC

4              OSU, Big Ten

5              Clemson, ACC

6              Washington, Pac-12

7              Auburn, SEC

8              LSU, SEC

9              FSU, ACC

10           Texas A&M, SEC

11           Oklahoma, Big 12

12           USC, Pac-12

13           Colorado, Pac-12

14           Washington St, Pac-12

15           Wisconsin, Big Ten

16           UNC, ACC

17           Tennessee, SEC

18           Ole Miss, SEC

19           Oklahoma State, Big 12

20           Penn State, Big Ten

21           West Virginia, Big 12

22           Miami, ACC

23           Florida, SEC

24           W Michigan, MAC

25           VT, ACC

26           Stanford, Pac-12

27           UCLA, Pac-12

28           TCU, Big 12

29           Baylor, Big 12

30           Boise State, MW

31           Texas, Big 12

32           BYU, FBS Indep.

33           Houston, American

34           USF, American

 

As with CBS 128, the FPI ranks Houston just one spot above USF.  This time, they are 33 and 34.  That rank is unchanged per the prior week for USF, and eleven points lower than their season high of 23rd in Week 4.

The Massey Composite ranking combines more than 100 different ranking systems and averages the total ranks by team.  The methodology is explained on USF Blog. 

1              Alab

2              Mich

3              Clem

4              Ohio St

5              Wash

6              Lville

7              Auburn

8              Wisc

9              TexA&M

10           WMU

11           PSU

12           Colo

13           Wash St

14           FSU

15           USC

16           Okla

17           WVU

18           Boise

19           VT

20           UNC

21           LSU

22           Neb

23           UTK

24           Utah

25           Stan

26           Fla

27           OkSt

28           Ark

29           Hou

30           SD St

31           USF

 

The Massey Composite bears similar results to the other ranking systems, which suggests that USF is pretty close to their correct ranking, now.  Houston is the only team ranked higher, at 29.  This poll was reported on this blog inaccurately, last week.  It was reported that the Bulls were ranked 36th, but they were actually the same rank as they are this week, 31. Massey includes the Massey ranking system in their composite rankings and the Massey rank was reported instead of the composite ranking.  This has been fixed going forward.  The Bulls peaked at 27th in the composite during Weeks 7 and 8.

The final system being reviewed in this series is Sagarin.  The methodology for this ranking system can be found on an earlier USF Blog posting.

1              Alab

2              Mich

3              Ohio St

4              Clem

5              Wash

6              Lville

7              Auburn

8              LSU

9              Wisc

10           TexA&M

11           Okla

12           Colo

13           Wash St

14           USC

15           FSU

16           VT

17           PSU

18           Stan

19           WMU

20           OlMi

21           WVU

22           UTK

23           Fla

24           Mia FL

25           UNC

26           OkSt

27           TCU

28           Utah

29           Neb

30           Hou

31           Boise

32           Ark

33           Baylor

34          UCLA

35           BYU

36           Texas

37           SD St

39           Iowa

39           UCLA

40           USF

 

Sagarin’s methodology does not like the AAC or USF, ranking Houston highest at 30th and the Bulls next at 40th.  This system has consistently been the lowest ranking for USF for all systems that rank more than 25 teams.  The AP is the only ranking system that has been lower, and that is because only 25 teams are ranked officially and less than 40 typically get votes. 

When conceptualized, this series was not intended to be a season long analysis of ranking systems.  It was believed that a USF team with one or two losses would probably be ranked at some point during the season.  Once they were ranked, the focus would simply be on where they are ranked on a weekly basis throughout the season in the major polls.  Back in the Big East days, a USF team at 7-2 was very likely to be ranked in the top 25.  The struggle they have had to get that kind of national recognition points, in some respects, to how unimpressed the media is with the American Athletic Conference.  It’s not hard to understand, because the conference still has no standard bearer.  Houston looked like they might be up for the job, but their season turned.  USF cannot fill that role as long as they are losing in such convincing fashion, when they lose.

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